Stockholm City Kayak Tour: Central Islands & City Hall

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.78 (204 reviews) 87% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/14

Duration2h–4h

GroupUp to 10

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Paddle past Stockholm City Hall and through the archipelago with a guide

You’ll paddle through Stockholm’s central islands by kayak with a local guide leading the way. Expect close-up views of City Hall and Riddarholmen Kyrka, moments of calm near Södermalm, and glimpses of daily life on Långholmen’s canals. It’s not just sightseeing — you’ll feel part of the city’s rhythm out on the water.

2h–4h

Step-by-step itinerary

Kayak tour of Stockholm's islands

Meet expert guide
Learn to paddle kayak
Paddle past Stockholm City Hall
View Riddarholmen Church
Get views over Södermalm
Circumnavigate Långholmen island
Paddle around Reimersholme if time

The Experience

Honestly, I almost bailed when I saw the kayaks lined up at the dock — they looked skinnier than I’d pictured, and the water had that cold Baltic smell. But our guide, Erik, just grinned and handed me a paddle like it was no big deal. “You’ll be fine,” he said, and somehow I believed him. The first few strokes were wobbly (I definitely splashed myself more than once), but after a minute or two, it started to feel kind of peaceful — just the sound of paddles dipping in sync, with the city humming somewhere behind us.

We glided past Stockholm City Hall — those red bricks look even more serious from water level — and then under a low bridge where someone above waved down at us. Erik pointed out Riddarholmen Kyrka’s spire poking up behind some old boats, telling us about royal tombs in his sort of dry Swedish way. I tried to repeat “Riddarholmen” but mangled it; he laughed and didn’t correct me. Sunlight kept flickering off the waves and sometimes you’d catch a whiff of cinnamon from a bakery drifting across Gamla Stan. That was unexpected.

There was this stretch along Södermalm where everything went quiet except for a seagull yelling at nobody. We circled Långholmen too — lots of wooden boats bobbing around, some with people having coffee on deck like it was just another Tuesday. My arms were starting to feel it by then (kayaking looks easy until you’re actually doing it), but I didn’t want to stop. If there’s time, you can paddle around Reimersholme as well — we did a quick loop because someone in our group wanted to see every island possible.

I still think about that view back toward the city when we paused mid-channel, all those old buildings stacked up against the sky. It felt different seeing Stockholm from here — less postcard-perfect, more real somehow. So yeah, if you’re curious about the city but want something quieter than wandering busy streets, this kayak tour is worth getting a little wet for.

What’s included

Your day includes all kayaking equipment—double sea kayak, paddles, life vest—and safety gear provided by your experienced local guide. On winter tours (4h), you also get a drysuit with gloves plus an outdoor sandwich and warm drink before heading back ashore.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by Stockholm Adventures ICEguide

Is this one for you?Book the 2-hour summer tour if you want a quick introduction to kayaking and the city's main landmarks; choose the 4-hour winter option if you're ready for a longer paddle with a meal and thermal gear included.